White House orders agencies to start shutting down

WASHINGTON - The White House ordered government agencies to begin shutting down late on Monday after Congress failed to find a compromise on a government spending bill before a midnight deadline.

"We urge Congress to act quickly to pass a continuing resolution to provide a short-term bridge that ensures sufficient time to pass a budget for the remainder of the fiscal year, and to restore the operation of critical public services and programs that will be impacted by a lapse in appropriations," said Sylvia Burwell, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, in a statement.

Just minutes before a U.S. government shutdown was to begin at midnight (0400 GMT), the Republican-led House of Representatives convened to formally request negotiations with the Democratic-led Senate. Before House Republicans even gathered, Democrats rejected proposed talks and said Republicans should instead give final approval to a Senate-approved bill to fund the government through Nov. 15.